Associating and folding mechanism



Nov. 19,A 1940. H. M. BARBER ASSOCIATING AND FOLDING MECHANISM sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. 26, 1939 INVENTOR www 74a M ATTORNEYS Nov. 19, 1940. H, M BARBER 2,222,278

ASSOCIATING AND FOLDING MECHANISM Filed 0G13. 26, 1939 2 SheefS-Sheet 2 @io SYS o @Y "v s Q0 a1-QW W w 2@ INVENTOR BY MM ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 19, 1.940

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ASSOCIATING AND FOLDING MEOHANISM Applicationctcber 26, 1939, Serial No. 301,338A

11 Claims.

The object of my invention `is to provide novel means for selectively handling two different sized products of a rotary web printing press, one where the form cylinder is an even number of plates around and the other where the form cylinder is an odd number of plates around.

My invention more particularly comprises tWo independently operated units for selectively cutting, folding and delivering products of the press lo when running four or five plates around the form cylinder, the associated printed webs in the first instance being cut into two two plate `length signatures, folded and delivered in duplicate products to the same delivery; `and in the second l5 instance into two and three plate length signatures, folded and delivered, the once folded two plate length signatures to one delivery and the twice folded three plate length signatures to another delivery. H A practical embodiment of my invention is representedin the accompanying drawings, in which nig. l represents a side elevation with the parts in the positions theyassume to utilize the first cutting, folding and delivery unit, the second 2,51 unit being silenced; i

Fig. 2 represents asimilar View with the parts in the positions which they assume to utilize the second cutting, folding anddelivery unit, the first unit being silenced; and i Fig. 3 represents a detail longitudinal central seetion through the three cylinders of the rst unit. l

rlIhe first cutting, folding and delivery unit is designed, in the present instance, to handle the product of a rotary web printing press in which the form cylinder is four plates around, `all of the product being delivered to one delivery. This first cutting, folding and delivery unit comprises the enacting cutting and folding cylinders I, 2,

the delivery cylinder 3 and the delivery 4. The delivery 4 is shown as a horizontally disposed traveling endless carrier.

The cylinder I is provided with diametrically opposed -cutter knives 5, 5 and adjacent impaling pins 6, 5. This cylinder is also provided with diametrically opposed tuckingblades 1, 'I

The cylinder 2 is provided with diametrically opposed cutting blocks 8, 8 which coact with their knives 5, 5, and diametrically opposed folding jaws 9, 9 which coact with the tucking blades The cylinder 3 is provided with three equally spaced sets of grippers Ill, IIJ `which coact `with the folding jaws 9, 9.

Stationary` cams II, I2 r may `be employedxto insure the proper operation of the folding devices and grippers for folding the signatures and delivering them to the delivery 4.

The delivery cylinder 3 is driven at a lesser surface speed than the cutting and folding cyl- 5 inders I, 2, in the present instance through the train of gears I3, I4, I5, I6. The cylinders I, 2 are driven from the drive shaft I"I through the train of gears I8, I9, 2D, the `gear 29 meshing with the gear I3 of the cylinder 2. l0

The gear I9 is removable or shiftable for silencing the first cutting, folding and delivery unit, when so desired.

The printed Webs are associated by the pair 0f coacting rollers 2|, 22, the roller 22 beingl positively driven from the drive shaft II through the bevel gears 23, 24, shaft 25, bevel gears 29, 2l, shaft 28 and bevel gears 29, 3U.

Curved sheet guides 3|, 32 are located underneath the cylinders I, 2 upon opposite sides of a 20 cross bar 33 having a slot 34 therethrough, said cross bar having an arm 35 to permit the bar to be rotated a quarter turn to prevent or per mit, as the case may be, the passage of the associated webs therethrough to the second cut- 25 ting, folding and delivery unit.

The second cutting, folding and delivery unit is, in the present instance, designed to handle the product of a press in which the form cylinder is ve plates around, the product being 30 cut into signatures of two and three plate lengths respectively. The signatures of two plate length being once folded and delivered to one delivery and the signatures of three plate length being twice folded and delivered to the opposite de- 35 livery.

This second cutting, folding and delivery unit comprises the coacting cutting and folding cylinders 3G, 3l, the delivery cylinder 38, its delivery 39, the folding cylinders 4U, 4I, the de- 40 livery cylinder 42 and its delivery 43. The deliveries 39 and 43 are herein shown as horizon- Itally disposed traveling endless carriers. The cylinder 3E is provided with the cutter knives 44, 45 arranged two-fifths of the circumference 45 apart. It is also provided with impaling pins 46 adjacent the cutting blade 44. This cylinder is also provided with the folding blades 4l, 48, arranged two-fifths of the circumference apart upon opposite sides of the cutter knife 45. The 50 cylinder 3'I is provided with cutting blocks 49, 5I] arranged to coact with the cutting knives 44, 45, which cutting blocks are spaced two-fifths of the circumference apart. Midway between these cutting blocks I provide the cylinder 3155 with a folding jaw 5| arranged to coact with the tucking blade 48.

The delivery cylinder 38 is provided with three sets of grippers 52, 52 also arranged to coact with the folding jaw 5|. The stationary cams 53, 54 are employed to insure the proper operation of the folding devices and grippers for folding the .signatures of two plate length and delivering them to the delivery 39. The cylinder is provided with the folding jaw 55 arranged to coact with the tucking blade 41 on the cylinder 36. This cylinder is also provided with the tucking blade 56 which is arranged toi coact with the folding jaw 51 on the cylinder 4I. The delivery cylinder 42 is shown as provided with three sets of equally spaced grippers 53, 58, 58 arranged to coact with the folding jaws 51. Stationary cams 59, 6|), 6I may be employed to insure the proper operation of the folding devices and grippers for twice folding the signatures of three plate length and delivering them to the delivery 43.

The cylinder 36 is driven from the drive shaft I1 through the train of gears I8, 53 and 50, the gear 59 being removable or shiftable for silencing the second unit when the first unit is being used. The cylinder 31 is provided with a gear 6I which meshes with the gear Si) and which rives the delivery cylinder 38 at a lower surface speed than the cylinders 36 and 31 through the train of gears 52, 53, 64. The cylinders 40 and 4| are driven at the surface speed of the cylinder A36 through the gears 55 and 65, the cylinder 65 meshing with the gear 60 of the cylinder 36 and also with the gear 66 of the cylinder 4I.

The delivery cylinder 42 is driven at a lower surface speed than the cylinder 4| through the train of gears 51, 58, 53. When the associated webs are passed through the first unit to the second unit they are led between the guide rollers 1i), 1|, the guide roller 1I being driven from the gear BI through the gears 12, 13.

Curved guides 14, 15 arelocated beneath the cylinders 33, 31 upon opposite sides of a crossbar 1B.

In operation, when it is desired to handle a product of the press with four plates around the form cylinder the second unit is silenced by removing or shifting the gear 59 out of mesh with the drive shaft gear I8. lIhe gear I9 is put into mesh with the drive shaft gear I8 thereby operatively connecting the rst unit to the drive shaft. The bar 33 is turned to close its slot 34 to the passage of the associated webs therethrough. As the associated webs pass between the cylinders I and 2 the leading ends of the webs are engaged by the impaling pins 6 immediately succeeding the operation of the coacting cutters 5 and 8 and are carried around on the cylinder I until the tucking blade 1 on the cylinder I coacts with the folding jaw 9 on the cylinder Z to fold the signature off on to the said cylinder 2. At the proper time the next signature is severed by the coaction of the cutters and the folding operation is `repeated. The once folded signatures are successively taken by the grippers It on the delivery cylinder 3 and deposited thereby on to the delivery carrier 4.

When it is desired to handle a product of thel connect the second unit thereto.

The cylinders of the first unit are turned to bring one of the flattened surfaces 11, 11 of the cylinder l opposite the surface of the cylinder 2 to permit the free passage of the associated webs therebetween. The bar 33 is turned to permit the passage of the associated webs through the slot 34 to and between the guide rollers 10, 1I and between the cylinders 36, 31 of the second unit. The associated webs of ve plate length are cut into one signature of two plate length and one signature of three plate length. rIhe signature of two plate length is out with tabs connecting it to the signature of three plate length so that the leading ends of the signature of two plate length are carried around the cylinder 36 by the signature of three plate length until separated therefrom by the co-action of the folding devices 48, 5| on the cylinders 33, 31. This once folded signature of two plate length is then taken by the delivery cylinder grippers 52 and deposited on the delivery carrier 33.

The signature of three plate length is first folded one-third its length by the folding devices 41, 55 on the cylinders 36, 40 and it is again folded two-thirds its original length by the folding devices 56, 51 on the cylinders 4G, 4i. The twice folded signature is then taken by the grippers 58 on the delivery cylinder 42 and deposited on the delivery carrier 43.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described, but

What I claim is:

1. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operated cutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle a. product where there are an even number of plates around the press form cylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product where there are an odd number of plates around the press form cylinder and web associating and forwarding rollers common to both units.

2. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operated cutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle a product where there are four plates around the press form cylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product where there are five plates around the press form cylinder and web associating and forwarding rollers common to both units.

3. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operated cutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle a product where there are an even number of plates around the press form cylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product where there are an odd number of plates around the press form cylinder and web associating and forwarding rollers common to both units, a single delivery being provided for the first named unit and two deliveries being provided for the second named unit.

4. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operated cutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle a product where there are four plates around the press form cylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product where there arel five plates around the press form cylinder and web associating and forwarding rollers common to both units, a single delivery being provided for the first named unit and two deliveries being provided for the second named unit.

5. In an associating andfolding mechanism, two selectively operated cutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle a product where there are an even number of plates around the press form cylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product where there are an odd number of plates around the press form cylinder, a common main drive being provided for both units, and means for connecting the drive to the one or the other of said units.

6. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operated cutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle a product where there are four plates around the press form cylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product Where there are five plates around the press form cylinder, a common main drive being provided for both units, and means for connecting the drive to the one or the other of said units.

"7. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operated cutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle a product where there are an even number of plates around the press form cylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product where there are an odd number of plates around the press `form cylinder and web associating and forwardingrollers common to both units, the first named unit comprising a pair of coacting cutting and folding cylinders and a delivery cylinder coacting with one of the cutting and folding cylinders, and the second named unit comprising cutting, folding and delivery cylinders coacting to ,deliver a once folded signature of an even number of plates length to one point, and a twice folded signature of an odd number of plates length to another point.

8. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operated cutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle a product Where there are four plates around the press form cylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product where there are five plates around the press form cylinder and web associating and forwarding rollers common to both units, the nrst named unit comprising a pair of coacting cutting and folding cylinders and a delivery cylinder coacting with one of the cutting and folding cylinders, and the second named unit comprising cutting, folding and delivery cylinders coacting to deliver a once folded signature of two plates length to one poin/t and a twice folded signature of three plates length to another point.

9. In an associating and folding mechanism,

two selectively operated cutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle a product where there are an even number of plates around the press form cylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product where there are an odd number of plates around the press form cylinder, the first named unit comprising a pair of coacting cutting and folding cyiinders and a delivery cylinder coacting with one of the cutting and folding cylinders, and the second named unit comprising cutting, folding and delivery cylinders coacting to deliver a once folded signature of an even number of plates length to one point, and a twice folded signature of an odd number of plates length to another point, a common main drive for both units, and means for connecting the drive to the one or the other of said units.

10. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operated cutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle a product where there are four plates around [the press form cylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product where there are ve plates around the press form cylinder, the first named unit comprising a pair of coacting cutting and folding cylinders and a delivery cylinder coacting with one of the cutting and folding cylinders, and the second named unit comprising cutting, folding and delivery cylinders coacting to deliver a once folded signature of tWo plates length to one point and a twice folded signature of three plates length to another point, a common main drive for both units, and means for connecting the drive to the one or the other of said units.

l1. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operated cutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle a product where there are an even number of plates around the press form cylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product where there are an odd number of plates around the press form cylinder, the first named unit comprising a pair of coacting cutting and folding cylinders and a delivery cylinder coacting with one of the cutting and folding cylinders, and the second named unit comprising two coacting cutting and folding cylinders, a delivery cylinder coacting with one of the cutting and folding cylinders, a first folding cylinder coacting with the other cutting and folding cylinder, a second folding cylinder coacting with the first folding cylinder and a delivery cylinder coacting with the second folding cylinder, a common main drive for both units, and means for connecting the drive to the one or the other of said units.

HOWARD M. BARBER. 

